I grew up swimming competitively. Maybe some day I’ll go into my background with swimming (probably when I train for a triathlon LOL) but for now, all you need to know is swimming was my life. But it didn’t make me happy. I grew up active involved in a lot of sports, but I was just a naturally fast swimmer. I was lucky enough to be a gifted swimmer. Which is unfortunate, because I hated it. Every day it felt like a job. It was not something I looked forward to, and for the most part the only reason I continued to swim was because I was good. Maybe great.
I think one of the best things that ever happened to me was when I got injured. My shoulders were shot, my rotator cuffs just completely fried from 70+ hours in the pool, two a day practices, and 10+ hours a week dry land. My body couldn’t handle it anymore. So when I went to college I decided to be as sedentary as possible. And as social as possible. Which as we ALL know, does not lead to a slim and fit figure.
The fall of my freshman year of college I came home to run our local Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. I ran every year with my family and usually ran, because the great thing about swimming was that my aerobic capacity was EXCELLENT. So maybe I wasn’t breaking any records, but a 5-mile run wasn’t exactly the most taxing workout for me. Well… after months of sedentary life, I sucked wind. When I was walking at mile 2, freezing my butt off, my mom floated on by yelling, “HI! YOU LOOK GREAT!” I wished I could disappear. As I hobbled on home and subsequently ate my body weight in waffles (we have odd, but delicious, holiday traditions) I realized I wasn’t happy with the way I felt, or looked. I wanted to feel proud and accomplished again.Both my mom and step-dad were incredible runners, with intense dedication and a handful of marathons under their belts. I figured, maybe I can do that too. So I started running. And the weird part about it, was I LOVED IT. I loved the fresh air. I love the feeling of pushing myself again. Maybe the aqueous life wasn’t for me, but running was. Running was fun.
When I started running in 2008 I never thought I’d run a marathon. And after my first marathon in 2011 I never thought I’d qualify for Boston.
Running has even allowed me given me the excuse to travel to some pretty cool places to run. Dallas. Philadelphia. Boston. Chicago. DC. Just to name a few…
It is incredible what we can do when we find something we love. Hard work wasn’t work anymore. It became passion. And commitment. And to be as cheesy as possible, love.
Running has given me confidence.
Running has become “me” time. It’s when I feel the most at peace.
What’s next? Welp, I’m not too sure. I love running and that will never go away. But, while I’m still young ish I’d like to complete a half ironman, maybe even a full. But I should probably learn to ride a bike first….#Details.
Reposted with Permission from I Don’t Eat That